Dallas – No. 2 Texas has the easiest road to the Rose Bowl and the national title game, but is it too easy? The first Bowl Championship Series rankings come out next Monday, and that means the start of the dastardly computers, a third of the BCS formula and a crux to sound-thinking people everywhere.
Is it conceivable that Texas, at 5-0 with a win at Ohio State, could lose its No. 2 ranking because the Big 12 is about as tough as the National League West? Probably not, says BCS analyst Jerry Palm.
“There are situations in which Texas can finish second in the polls and third in the BCS,” Palm said Sunday. “The more solid they are in the polls, the less likely that is to happen.”
The Longhorns’ 45-12 whitewash of Oklahoma on Saturday strengthened their poll standing. They increased their lead in the USA Today coaches poll from 58 points over No. 3 Virginia Tech to 63 and from 109 to 123 in the new Harris Poll, the other two-thirds of the BCS rankings, which determine the top teams for the title game Jan. 4.
Texas needs to impress voters because its schedule won’t impress computers. Its remaining games against ranked teams are at home: Saturday against No. 24 Colorado and Oct. 22 against No. 13 Texas Tech. Also, the Big 12 championship game might be against a ranked team, but the only likely ranked North candidate could be Colorado, and the Longhorns may knock the Buffs into never-never ranking land Saturday in Austin.
Meanwhile, Virginia Tech (6-0) still plays No. 14 Boston College (5-1), No. 7 Miami (4-1) and, if it stays unbeaten, in the ACC title game, probably against No. 4 Florida State (5-0).
Florida State still plays at No. 11 Florida (5-1). No. 5 Georgia (5-0) plays Florida, No. 21 Auburn (4-1), Georgia Tech (3-2) and the Southeastern Conference title game, which could be No. 6 Alabama (5-0).
So what scenario does Palm envision for Texas to drop?
“There needs to be four or five undefeated teams,” he said. “They need to be fourth or fifth in the computers for No. 3 to have a shot. Or the No. 3 team has to be No. 1 in the computers. As long as Texas is a solid No. 2, they have nothing to worry about.”
JoePa on top again
As a low grandstand collapsed, leaving students unhurt and still cheering among 109,839 fans at Beaver Stadium, Penn State coach Joe Paterno wasn’t willing to fall for his suddenly first-place team yet.
“I never really thought we were far away,” he said after the 17-10 win over Ohio State. “I’ve been trying to be as conservative as I can be in evaluating our football team. But I’m not going to get carried away with one win.”
Let him get carried away Saturday at Michigan. Talk about two teams going in opposite directions. A Penn State win would clearly make it the best team in the Big Ten, and Michigan would be 3-4 for the first time since going 4-6 in 1967.
How’d Sutton leave Ohio?
The nation’s newest freshman sensation, Northwestern tailback Tyrell Sutton, was Ohio’s Mr. Football last year out of Archbishop Hoban High School in Akron. In five games, he has Northwestern’s freshman rushing record with 772 yards, including 244 yards in the 51-48 upset of Wisconsin.
What a recruiting coup. He’s Ohio’s all-time leading prep rusher with 9,426 yards and 117 touchdowns. He once rushed for 505 yards and eight touchdowns against Youngstown’s Ursuline High. So how did Ohio State miss on him? It didn’t have a chance. Northwestern coach Randy Walker was on him early his junior season and he committed before the end of that school year.
He rebuffed a late charge by new Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis. Turns out, the honor student preferred Northwestern’s academics over the Irish and Buckeyes. Take that, THE Ohio State University.
Footnotes
LenDale White and Reggie Bush became the first USC backs to each rush for at least 100 yards three weeks in a row. … Virginia Tech’s defense already has two fumble recoveries for touchdowns, three interception returns for TDs and a blocked kick. … Add Tennessee to the list of disappointments. Until its final meaningless scoring drive Saturday, it had only nine plays in Georgia territory. … Nebraska suffered its first homecoming loss since 1968.
John Henderson can be reached at 303-820-1299 or jhenderson@denverpost.com.
